St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-28
IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT.
The Big Republican Maiorities in That
District Due Solely to the Apathy
of the Democrats.
They Are Afraid of Losing Some Small
Local Office or a Batch Of
Fat Tax Lists.
What Night Be Done if an Effort Were
Made--Nels0n Not So Popu-
lar as Imagined.
To the Editor of the Globe


ton as to whether this congressional
diStrict-which has been such dead
fall to Democracy-can well be made to
| follow in the wake of the other three.
which are now held by Democratic
| members in this state. But of this
there is nothing sure. either way, as a
rehearsal OF the past, present and what
Observation-Disclosures will show
not forgetting that the sentiment and
work which gave those three districts to
the Democrats could have been made
largely available in this as well as in
those where it was such success.
Looking over the past it will be found
that Knute Nelson received at his first
election in this district, in 1882, after a
heated contest, 1866 votes; G.. F. Kin
dred, 1928 Doth Republicans. and E.
L. Barnum, Democrat, 6,24S votes. In
1884 Nelson had 25,609; l.. l.. Baxter,
DamOcrat, had 1916 vOteS-a Demo-
cratic gain of 6.92S votes in two years
when Mr.. Baxter was by no means a
mau who could have infused any one
with voting enthusiasm. and did
not receive his party's strength. as
there was no confidence felt by his
friends that it was possible to elect him.
He ran up close with the head of his
ticket, Mr.. Cleveland, and, while moth
ing was done for either of them in the
west portion of the district, Mr.. Baxter
nearly doubled his party vote of the two
years previous. In 1886 Nelson received
1881 votes. There was no Democratic
nomination, only J. I'll. Long. independ-
ent, being pitted against him. Long,
making no attempt to secure sup
port, had only $50 votes. From which
1t can be seen over $4,000 Democrats
must have voted for Nelson: not because
he was popular, but that they had
NO CANDIDATE IN THE FIELD.
AS things then stood Democrat,
with a full working force well led to
the front, would have polled $1,000
vOtes-and it might have been 1900,
and left things in good working shape
for the future. There would have been
large Democratic gains from the fact
that Nelson was no longer on the
patronage-giYing side of the house, and
could get no appointments for his fol-
lowers; and, having become unpopular,
because so disabled, and with the 4oat-
ing vote, which generally adhereS to
the appointing party in power, the
Democratic minority of 1884 would
bave been increased, and told at
fearful rate upon Nelson's strength,
as he greatly feared at that time. He
was not so strong in 1886 as many sup
posed him to have been. He had made
too many promises to his cOuntrymen,
which had been broken. There had
been several rows at Republican head
quarters, and he had been accused of
being lukewarm for Gov. Hubbard
when Mr.. Bierman gobbled up the
Scandinavian vote under Nelson's
nose and came within 14,2l2 of defeat
ing Hubbard, who had been elected in
1881 by over $1,000 majority. Nelson's
party leaders owed him a grudge which
they wished to settle up in 1886.
AS for the present, upon general
principles it can be said. Republicans
are becoming weary with the mOnotOny
of everything going one way in this
district like Il flock of sheep through
the same hole in the fence. They have
been in the majority so long that their
victories have become stale to them.
and their appetiteS for them lost. The
ScandinaYianS as mass, outside of
their leaders, are becoming tired of
being led to the same trough at every
election to vote for those they never see
only when desiring to be returned to
office. They are, therefore. less hide
bound in blind way to the Republican
party and have become
OPEN TO DEMOCRATIC CONVICTION,
when it is made plausible to their I'M
Outstanding. If the signs of the times
are any indication they will go still
more i'll this direction in the future. As
an advancement is made along the line
it will be found that Republicans are
beginning to believe their party in this
district and state is entirely too strong
for the general good of the people, and
begin to feel that when party's nom
nations have come to be considered
equivalent TO an election, self interest
and patriotic wisdom make clear that
its time for usefulness has passed and
there should be change.
If there is success here for the De-
m0cracy in the future they must be in
duced to vote and work for their ticket,
and not hang aStride the fence to pick
up local offices in Republican counties.
Many complain that this has been car
ried to such an extent in this district for
years that it is difficult to find Demo-
crat who cares to admit he is such from
principle, lest he be turned out
of warm place and his fair pros
poets blghted for a good future.
This has heretofore drawn votes from
Democratic candidates by the thou
sands, and was severely felt in Mr..
Cleveland'S election: also in the Ames
campaign of year ago-leaving him
short some 5000 votes, compared with
what he might have had. There is an
excuse given by some that there are no
Democratic leaders in the district, and
those with any influence which they are
willing to publicly exercise are with diff
ficulty made active. They also feel that
too many of the few Democratic papers
III the district pander to Republicans
for delinquent taX-lists, while Republi-
can papers are TO be found in every di-
rection making great men out of most
all kinds of material for party use.
Detroit, Nov &c. MUGwUNP.